The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-06-17
The Coming Metal.

Even the different epOchs of the his
tory ~ The human race have been
named after che metals. The eariie5t
and mythical age, was the golden. The
hrst historic period Of the age OF oronzs;
this is truly the iron age OF ;he world.
Iron nerves braid tie continents, and
iron ships are the shuttle that weave the
wool OF commerce. Without it cIviliZI-
tiop would be at n standstill, aud the
stone hammers and the dInt arrow
heads again be the needed implements
and weapons of the race.
II is the metalmissionary .hat makes
civilization practicable. Yet It Is more
probaly that in the near coming time
iron will be displaced. This king and
and servant that controls and yet serves
will have to abdicate to new, potent
and more capable ruler. The metal Of
the time to be is aluminium. Iron, as
strong as IL is, is fatal in its weakness,
moisture gnaws It's surface with de-
structlve rust the hammering that
lengthens its crystal into ibeTs and
changes it from cast to the toughness %
wrUught-if the vibrations and pound
ing be continued, as in the sXles of rail
road wheels-jars it back TO weak crys-
tails again. The sun streatches it and
the coli shrinks il. Excellent as iron is
il is very falliable, and the broken rail
and swapping bridge girder makes IL
Moloch satisfied only with the sacrifice
Of human life.
A new metal. however, has quietly,
modestly ard almost without recogni-
tion made its advent. Hidden away in
every bed OF clay and in every block Of
seemingly worthless and friable rocky
slate this new-found and wonderful
metal can be found. Like Bethlehem's
star, 1t proclaims the possibilities of
new civilization. Aluminium is very
plebeisn in its affinites. 1t has never
yet been found alone. Dirt and rock
every rock, in fact, except limestone
are its holder and companion.
When Franklin was curious TO learn
by experiment il the lightning was of
the same force as that of the crude cleo
tric machine he little dreamed that the
tiny wire twisted IN the string of his
kite was to be the parent of the tele
graph and cable that over the land and
under the sea would, like ShakespeaI's
Puck, IN forty minutes put a girdIe
round the earth that with a cobweb of
wire the human voice would bridge
space, our streets be- lighted with the
homes galddened with its globules OF
daylight.
So when some forgotten chemist
found in the dull dirt this new metal be
discovered continent of possibilities
whose length and bredth lie never knew.
It was next to silver in luster. Rust
will not assaiI il or gases attack. 1t
does rot poison like lead or color like
copper, Il is buta third the weight OF
iron ard fourth the weight Of silver.
1t can De made ductile for railroad ties,
and can be remeltable when worn. l.
can be manufactured into rails more
durable than steel. Steamships of this
metal lose two-thrds their weight.
Engines constructed of it wonld double
their strength and be lightened in pro
portion. Cars made of it would be
light as chalk, unbumable rs brick and
unpenetrable as dimond.
ALUMINIUM is the most abundant
material next to oxygen on the planet
II is possible in the future TO Iweu
IN houses that elements could not
wear or fire destroy. Combined with
allows its beauty is infinite. Chemistry
tells us it gives red to the ruby, green to
the emerald and blue to the sapphire.
1t is only within 8 half century that the
existence OF this metal has been sur
missed only within thirty years has 1t
been definitely known, and only within
a few years that it has been utilized.
At nrst q shy and hardly conquerable
product of the labratory, recent and
newer methods have lowered the cost of
It's production from S32 20 Sl5 per
pound. II only needs some fortunate
and sknlful alcLemist to coax alumni
um economically from its humble ssso-
ciate. the common clay, to revolution
ize the world.